Okay, so where are we now with this whole crazy YouTube copyright debacle? Good question. YouTube isn’t backing down, the gamers who have been affected are still being affected, appeals are being made, media companies are claiming there are good guys and bad guys in all of this and everything is sort of still nuts. Hell, even director/YouTuber Kevin Smith has gotten involved, calling out YouTube.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though: Brandon Martinez, CEO of INDMusic, has been all over the scene explaining to various media outlets that technically the copyright claims are likely unfounded. See, the music companies (who most people have singled out as the second biggest villain next to Nintendo) probably signed an agreement with the game companies authorizing the use of their song in trailers and Let’s Play videos to be considered for use in the games. So if Matinez is correct, everything should go the gamers way. But while this all gets sorted out, everything hangs in limbo (including the money). Basically, it’s all still a frustrating mess, but hopefully it opens a dialogue about copyright and “fair use” that saves the rest of the internet from undergoing the same issues.

Here are some other articles that explore the mire of copyright on YouTube:

[…] now that YouTubers can’t utilize the old means of success — monetizing copyrighted content. Content ID sweeps have closed that door for up-and-coming YouTubers who aren’t protected by MCN’s. But […]